OKATIE, S.C. (Aug. 15, 2024) – Four public officials – two each from Hampton County and the town of Bluffton – were indicted Thursday following separate examinations by the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office Public Integrity Unit.
Two Hampton defendants are:
- Rose Dobson-Elliott: The former Hampton County administrator is charged with embezzlement of public funds in an amount less than $10,000. The charge stems from her alleged use of a county account for personal use in March 2023.
- Justin Edwards: The former Hampton County deputy sheriff is charged with misconduct in office and embezzlement of public funds greater than $10,000. The charges stem from his alleged use of county funds for personal use between April 2019 and December 2022.
Two Bluffton defendants are:
- Thomas Rauchfuss: The former civilian employee of the Bluffton Police Department is charged with obstruction of justice, stemming from his alleged theft of firearm(s) from the department in April 2024.
- Bonificio Perez: The Bluffton police officer is charged with misconduct in office, stemming from alleged assistance he gave to Rauchfuss in the theft of firearm(s).
The Public Integrity Unit is a collaboration between the 14th and 1st Circuit Solicitor’s Offices. It consists of senior-level attorneys and investigators from both offices, who work with law enforcement agencies to review alleged public corruption, as well as officer-involved shootings and other use-of-force cases.
The Public Integrity Unit secured direct indictments against the defendants in Hampton and Beaufort counties, respectively, following an investigation by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division. After a direct indictment, defendants are typically summoned to appear in General Sessions Court for a bond setting. No court date has yet been set for these defendants.
The investigations that led to the indictments continue.
All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
